It has been possible to cross the border at the border crossing points in Southeast Finland Border Guard District by bicycle in addition to cars.
This arrangement has been based on the border delegates’ mutual agreement. It has not been possible to cross the border by foot before either. By allowing bicycles, the local border area residents have been offered an opportunity to do short day trips to the neighbouring states.
At the moment, there are foreigners travelling from Russia to Finland by bicycles, without adequate travel documents for entering the Schengen area. This is a phenomenon of illegal entry, and to control this phenomenon and, furthermore, to ensure the border security, crossing the border by bicycle has been restricted with a one-sided notice by the Southeast Finland border delegate. It is not allowed to cross the border by bicycle via the Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa and Imatra international border crossing points for car traffic as of 9 November 2023 00:00.
For further information, please contact: Deputy commander of Southeast Finland Border Guard District Jukka Lukkari, phone number +358 295 422 002
